"Attributed to 18th-century Italian naturalist Antonio Land, who worked for Mato Grosso Governor Luiz de Albuquerque, these 116 drawings of Brazilian fauna (78) and flora (38) survived a devastating fire at the House of Insua in Portugal; many other drawings were destroyed. The specimens illustrate the 'Philosophical Expedition' of 1765-70, which mainly explored Mato Grosso and Pará (Amazonia), detailing one of the most fascinating evolutionary histories of plant life on earth. This now rare book includes scientific and historical explanatory texts, first-rate iconography, and color reproductions of the highest quality"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.